SINGAPORE 60's: ANDY's POP MUSIC INFLUENCE IS A PERSONAL MUSIC, MEMORY TRAIL. BLOGGER DOES NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO VIDEOS, AUDIO TRACKS AND IMAGES. THEY ARE UPLOADED FOR FUN, EDUCATIONAL, ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES AND HAVE BEEN CREDITED. BLOG IS NOT SPONSORED NOR ADVERTORIAL IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. INFORM BLOGGER OF COPYRIGHT ISSUES AND POST WILL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT COPY THE POSTS; GET PERMISSION N CREDIT ME IF YOU DO. ANDY LIM LA (NOVEMBER, 2008) -
(新加坡六十年代安迪的流行音乐影响力), SUDI MAMPIR !
'By the Light of the Silvery Moon': Doris Day, To my honey, I'll croon love's tune, Honey moon, keeps a-shinin' in June...
Now it's Beautiful Sunday with October Cherries.
Beautiful Sunday: October Cherries. YouTube Video by: kt jong
Well, just playing with days, weeks, months and years! Remember them so you won't get dementia...
The days of the weeks feature in many song titles too. Limiting them from the 50s to 70s compositions, there are already a few hundred songs.
Beginning from *The World Hits 'Beautiful Sunday' Album (1972 - image) by the October Cherries, a Singapore group, there are titles like, Blue Monday by Bob Seger, Sunday, Monday Or Always by Frank Sinatra.
Ruby Tuesday is by The Rolling Stones, Melanie, Twiggy, Bobby Goldsboro. Wednesday Evening Blues by John Lee Hooker, Thursday by Jim Croce, Black Friday by Steely Dan, AnotherSaturday Night by Cat Stevens, Sam Cooke, The Bay City Rollers, The Eagles and Earth Wind and Fire.
Sunday Best is by Bobbie Gentry, Sunday Morning Coming Down by Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, That Sunday, That Summer by Nat King Cole, A Monday Date by Louis Armstrong, Rainy Days and Mondays by The Carpenters. The list goes on...
*Beautiful Sunday, available by October Cherries on World Hits 1973 Single ES6-A, A Baal Production on Elastic Record. Composer/original recording is by Daniel Boone.
Here comes Ruby Tuesday...
"Ruby Tuesday": Melanie; YouTube Video by: Melanie Safka [official page]
Any other song you know that relates to calendar connections?
Just keep on commenting...
'Wednesday Evening Blues': John Lee Hooker. The guitar man on a lonely evening.
'Thursday' by Jim Croce: 'Cause I was looking for a lifetime lover, And you were looking for a friend. [reversed?]
'Black Friday': Steely Dan: When Black Friday comes, I'll collect everything I'm owed, And before my friends find out, I'll be on the road...
'Another Saturday Night,' Cat Stevens: I got in town a month ago, I seen a lot of girls since then, If I could meet 'em I could get 'em...
As April leaves us and May approaches, we observe that June is waiting to mark the middle of twenty twenty-six. That's half-way through the year and 3 flowers are blooming...
The following comments are extracts taken from previous blog sites:
From the late Dave Loggins, composer: Uploaded on Jan 2, 2009.
"I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts on "Pieces." I wrote it at a very special time of my life. Special, because I met the "love of my life" and had recently lost her. By chance, we were together for three consecutive Aprils and then she left me for good. Today, I don't know where she is or how her life turned out.
May is symbolic of the present, April was and still remains a sweet yesterday. I have never really gotten over "April" and the "pieces" still remain. Those sweet Aprils... It's my favorite song, too."
Tomas Rodriguez, blog reader, says:
It is a really beautiful song, but it is very sad. I also think that the memory that he has of the woman is really an illusion. What he is really attached to is the feeling of sadness and longing that is evoked by his memory of the relationship. At the end of the day she did abandon him [and ladies he did abandon you] so why honor her/him for that? Love God, love life and love yourself first...
Suituapui, blogger was in Singapore, 1973, says:
Ooooo...one of my all-time favourite songs. 3 Dog Night's ‘Pieces of April’ - 1973. I was in Singapore that year, Stamford College, Waterloo Street. Those were the days. I saw Heather and the Thunderbirds - Lost Horizon, Shangri La...and also another place, Malaysia Hotel...can't remember the name now. I saw a very young Anita Sarawak too - Top of the Hilton. Oooo...what memories. [Suituapui means 'Beautiful Fat Guy'].
Maggie May: Rod Stewart. With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. YouTube Video by: Rod Stewart.
Poppa Madison, blog reader, says:
Pity so many young women of today don't merit this kind of romantic approach. I feel sorry for the young guys of recent generations who want to give their hearts to a lovely fair maiden, but more often than not come face to face with a gaggle of boozed up, foul mouthed, violent, out of their mind female juvenile delinquents when they go out try and find one they can give their all to.
50 years ago, I can vouch that we actually had real ladies and gentlemen with good manners and a sense of socially interactive behaviour that many of today's young lot could not even begin to be able to get close to understanding let alone emulate.
Wot a shame! 😱
[But don't forget guys, if April has left you, there's always May and June waiting...]
Rainy Day In June: Kinks. YouTube Video by: 1966 Stereo In.
Peaceful rainy September on the streets in Singapore. Now's who's playing with those flying machines in other countries, while candles and joss sticks illuminate the Chinatown skies. A significant season for Singapore indeed.
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An Anonymous Comment... and Mine:
True, true. It is a very wet September so far; it's raining now and gets heavier too. The Heavens crying its eyes out at the state of the world, a world with hardly any peace, where newly invented drones fill the skies to destroy.
911 - a number known to all Americans, and the world. The Emergency services number. 911 will be seared in the memory of the world.
Every season has its beauty. Autumn, or Fall, is resplendent in fiery colours. It is also harvesting season, when Mother Earth offers puny Man her rich larder to tide over the lean Winter.
In this New World, it is Time for Thanksgiving, an occasion many considered as important, if not more, as Christmas. At American and Canadian universities, Fall is when term begins afresh, time for Orientation and Homecoming, when the blaze of academic life and enquiring minds are stoked anew.
John Keats in Ole' England in 1795, because
the digitalized folks have only awakened
from their slumber in 1975.
In the Old World, we can't help but remember John Keats' "Ode to Autumn".
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless, With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core...
So, in Asiatic Singapore, we get the brown branches and green leaves bowing under the weight of the thunderstorm. Expect more rain this September 2025. And are we expecting the school holiday, Teachers' Day, Prophet Muhammed's Birthday, Little India's Deepavali Light-up, the Hungry Ghost, Mooncake or Mid-Autumn Festival too? Better check them out.
Since January 2025 till today, 1st July, half the year has gone by. Enjoy your life as much as you can in this very turbulent, crazy and difficult world. But try to keep your peace; not easy though...
January To June,
Not Much Peace In Tune.
Now It's July,
Sun's High In The Sky!
Enjoy while you may,
It's not ours to say.
Simon and Garfunkel: 'Leaves That Are Green'.
YouTube Video by: kylecrazyford.
"And the leaves that are green turn to brown..."
I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song
I'm twenty-two now, but I won't be for long
Time hurries on
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither with the wind
And they crumble in your hand...
[From a 1965 album by Paul Simon. Later added with Art Garfunkel and instruments. The A side is 'Homeward Bound'.]
Everyone Wants To Rule The World. History Has Revealed, No Country or Dynasty Remains At the Top n Powerful Forever. Time Changes, Situation Changes. It's This Mentality: What You Can Do, I Can Do Better n It's A Matter Of Time. To Test A Person's Greatness, Give Them Power. With Power, Corruption Arises.
The Real Sad Part Is, Nothing's Done To Help Bring Peace n Happiness To The World; Only Weapons Of Mass Destruction. It's Always One Up Against the Other. Not Working Collectively For the Good Of All Beings.
Author: Merlin Lim [Musician].
More Music, More Peace In A Drastically Divided And Uncertain World, Especially With Old Music:
Yes, never stop sending those 60s music stories...
A rare combination that never happened but it could have
if they had met. Elvis and Bruce, peaceful people who just
wanted a happy and strong world through music and self-defence.
While Bruce was a martial-arts master, Elvis was a follower but
both excelled in their own field.
Images: AI generated; except 'old music' poster from Google.
Great to hear this track again, Brother Andy! Thank you for posting!😊
I remember bombarding myself with their albums all the way to *Singapore Changi Exhibition Centre in preparation of their concert seven years ago. Having never seen them live before, I was delighted to be attending this event and was really looking forward to the show after a long three-decade wait. Apart from complaints on social media about long wait for food, drinks and transportation, performance-wise, this iconic American band put on a top notch rocking show!
The setlist was classic, with the bulk of the songs coming from their debut album, Appetite For Destruction, and double release Use Your Illusion 1 and Use Your Illusion 2. Apart from singalong opportunities on their epic ballads, we finally get to hear Slash’s guitar introduction on, Sweet Child O’ Mine and the timeless riff still sounds fresh.
Although only core members Rose, Slash and McKagan were tight musically, the rest of them did not disappoint and held on despite less spotlight. Still remember, the night was filled with nostalgic memories and reminders of how far Guns N’ Roses has come.
Brother Andy, these were some of the best days in my life, and I’m still floating high in the air as I listened to some of those landmark albums again today especially this song. Cheers to all. ❤️👍🥰
Authorship and Collage:
Fred Ching.
*Guns N' Roses Concert.
25th February, 2017.
Changi Exhibition Centre.
Singapore.
Thanks to Fred Ching too for this awesome collage of the group.
Julie London had a quiet song called, 'November Twilight'.
She's known for her, 'Cry Me A River' big hit.
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Gone Till November,
November Has Come,
November,
November Boogie,
8th Of November
and
November Twilight
are pop songs about this month. It's November, my month because it's this time of the year when I was born but a long time ago. So it's my favourite season. There are some sweet songs about this cool, autumnal spell, definitely more than two dozens, but my post is about every named month on the calendar; so let's find out how many melodies there are.
This list is but a fraction:
June In January - Bing Crosby February Brings The Rain - Julie London Melancholy March - Julie London April Love - Pat Boone April In Portugal - Les Baxter
Pieces of April -
First Of May - Bee Gees
June Is Busting Out All Over - Rodgers/Hammerstein July Morning - Uriah Heep August, October - Robin Gibb September In The Rain - Frank Sinatra, Carole King September Morn - Neil Diamond
When October Goes - Barry Manilow
This October - Julie London November Twilight - Julie London November Rain - Guns n Roses I Can See The Sun In Late December - Stevie Wonder December Song - George Michael.
The cover of London's famous Long Play she recorded depicting months. Julie London woos Calendar months? On the same subject, Ms London had specially recorded a Long Play record in 1956 using all the names of the months for the titles of her songs. Unique indeed. Here they are: June in January February Brings The Rain Melancholy March
I'll Remember April
People Who Are Born In May Memphis In June
Sleigh Ride In July Time For August
September In The Rain
This October November Twilight Warm In December Thirteenth Month.
All calendar months were featured in many pop songs of the past. Most of them are still playing over the radio today. April Love, April In Portugal, First Of May, an instrumental Come September, were some of the top hits in Singapore. These particular songs were heard on radio, Rediffusion, in cabarets and hotel nightspots during the 60s and available on vinyl too. At that time most music was copied from the west and resurrected on vinyl with local artistes and bands singing and playing them. Then Neil Sedaka came, with one of his biggest hits and highlighted the calendar girl. The world and Singapore went wild. A nostalgic November to all.
CALENDAR GIRL (N.Sedaka/H.Greenfield).
Video by historycomestolife. Thank you.
I love, I love, I love my calendar girl
Yeah, sweet calendar girl
I love, I love, I love my calendar girl
Each and every day of the year
(January) You start the year off fine
(February) You're my little valentine
(March) I'm gonna march you down the aisle
(April) You're the Easter Bunny when you smile
Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year
(Every day of the year)
Cover of Julie London's record done in 1956, special indeed those years.
(May) Maybe if I ask your dad and mom
(June) They'll let me take you to the Junior Prom
(July) Like a firecracker all aglow
(August) When you're on the beach you steal the show
Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year
(Every day of the year) Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year.
November Twilight. Julie London.
YouTube, Thank you.
When Sagittarius appears and shoots his heart out,
Thank you for reading the blog . Truly appreciate the time you spent clicking through the pages of time and making comments; writing letters and contributing content to our Singapore 60s Music scene all these 15 years. Six months have passed and in another six, it'll be 2024. With 3.2 million views, hopefully it will survive...
"We readers should be the ones thanking you for your fabulous blog - a treasure trove of interesting and entertaining articles on pop music of the 60s - without annoying pop ups of adverts and click-bait sites that are so prevalent nowadays and at the risk of getting scammed! Thank you Andy." Jimmy Chng [Reader, Contributor, Percussionist: Singapore 1.7.2023]
I remember my father, a quiet gentleman who seldom reprimanded me. But I had always respected him, listened to him and loved him in my own way. Strange, he had never laid hands on me even when I was at my naughtiest. I wish I had been just as nice with my own children and to this day regretted that I had been so fierce with them.
I called him, Pa, and heused to read his newspaper every afternoon sitting on a wooden chair beside the shophouse pillar outside our home. It was either the Keng Po or Sin Po an Indonesian and Dutch daily (image/magazine version) that he had subscribed to. Even today the image of him sitting by the pillar is still in my mind's eye.
A lover of Dutch and Indonesian melodies, I remember his favourite songs from old Dutch artistes in the 40s, 50s hits, and 60s diva, Anneke Gronloh. He loved the keroncong like, Sapu Tangan, Keroncong Mourisko and Jembatan Merah. And a one all favourite, Gambang Semarang. He would listen to them from the valve PYE radio we had at home. He loved Chinese instrumentals too and appreciated music coming from the Chinese flute, zither, harp, etc. And listening to mother's favourite Shanghai songstress Zhou Xian was soothing to his ears. Watching boxing and wrestling matches at the Happy World Stadium was his favourite past time. I would always accompany him, just as excited and awed as he was when we watched King Kong (image: below right) thumped and pinned Dara Singh to the ring floor. But when Dara Singh won the match father went to the moon. He was elated and to see the joy on his face made me just as happy.
The Capitol Cinema was his favourite haunt when, with my mother, we would watch The Tales Of Hoffman, Great Caruso and Eddie Duchin Story. Once a magician called the Great Sorcar performed at the same venue but father was unimpressed. Every evening he would play Chinese Checkers with mother and I would just be around learning how to type asdf;lkj and trying to master the home keys on the noisy Remington. I've kept this last. What made him happiest was his camera which he kept preciously. It was an Ensign, Ful-Vue and made in England. He was happiest taking pictures of everyone, everywhere, and many of the b/w photographs are still in my pssession.
Those years, the late 40s and 50s, were quiet ones and one song usually comes to mind when I think of my father. It was popular then and an evergreen today. Oh, My Papa was sung by the late Eddie Fisher.
I hope you will be cheerful and keep happy even if your children don't celebrate it with you as they may be away or even busy with their work and family. Do you remember your dad and a song that you associate him with? A Happy Father's Day to all dads.
[Because of a radio interview there has been a misconception that I was born in Indonesia. I was born in Singapore.]
My dad loved both classical music and pops. The magician Sorcar didn't impress him.
Oh My Papa - Eddie Fisher
Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so wonderful Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so good No one could be, so gentle and so lovable Oh, my papa, he always understood. Gone are the days when he could take me on his knee And with a smile, he'd change my tears to laughter Oh, my papa, so funny, so adorable Always the clown so funny in his way Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so wonderful Deep in my heart, I miss him so today.
Video by: Scrambled Eggs 1969 O mein Papa is a German song, as related by a young woman remembering her beloved, once-famous clown father. It was written by Swiss composer Paul Burkhard in 1939 for the musical Der Schwarze Hecht (The Black Pike), reproduced in 1950 as Feuerwerk (Fireworks). Under the original German title, an instrumental version by trumpeter Eddie Calvert topped the UK Singles Chart in 1954 and also a top hit in the US charts.
The song has been performed and recorded by numerous artists since its debut, including Alan Breeze, Billy Cotton, Billy Vaughn, The Everly Brothers, Harry James, Guy Mitchell, Ray Anthony & his Orchestra, Russ Morgan & his Orchestra, The Beverley Sisters, Björk and many others."
